The Constitutional Court of Albania rejected on Wednesday the request of the Chamber of Advocacy and the Helsinki Committee to declare unconstitutional the reorganization of the judicial districts, known as the new Judicial Map, which was approved by the Government in July of last year.

The Constitutional Court assessed that the new map does not violate the right to access to justice to the extent that the negative consequences are more severe than the quality required in the administration of justice.

According to the Constitutional Court, this intervention in the reorganization of the courts does not violate the principle of proportionality.

The Court emphasized, comparing the consequences, that individuals have the opportunity to exercise the constitutional right to access to justice, regardless of the negative consequences arising from the judicial reorganization.

After hearing all interested parties, the Constitutional Court emphasized that the reorganization of the judicial districts respects the criterion of proportionality in terms of interference with economic activity.

The Court emphasized that regarding the claim of undermining the right to equality before the law, the act has led to differentiation; however, there is a reasonable and objective justification.

According to the new judicial map, starting from February 1 of this year, six Courts of Appeal were merged into one in Tirana, where over 29,000 cases were transferred for review.

Since May 1, according to the new map, out of 22 First Instance Courts, only 13 operate. Case files from courts in Tropoja, Mat, Kurbin, Kruja, Puka, Lushnje, Kavaja, Përmet, and Pogradec are transferred to other courts.

The third phase, which began implementation on July 1, foresees a reduction in the number of administrative courts, which from 6 will be reduced to only two, one in Tirana and one in Lushnje.